Bed and breakfast Palermo – Our Story

Bed and breakfast Palermo

Bed and breakfast Palermo

“La Dolceria” was established in Via Toledo in 1844, after Giovanna Bonanno “the Old Vinegar Lady”, was hung at the Four Corners and 30 years after the death of one of the most prominent poets of the literary scene of Palermo, Giovanni Melo. The management of this business, founded by Giuseppe Bruno, was handed over for three more generations. This firm was awarded 43 medals, between gold and silver, not only in Palermo but also in Paris, Brussels and London. At that time, the production of sweets and pastries was committed to the wise hands of cloistered nuns inside monasteries, although pastry chefs were also entitled to provide these delicacies. For every festivity, there was a related sweet: for “I morti” (Celebration of the dead, November 1st) there were sugar dolls, for “L’immacolata” (Feast of the Immaculate Conception, December 8th) the pietrafendola, for Saint Lucy (December 13th) cuccia, sweet panelle and zeppole. During Carnival it was a custom to perform veglioni, parades where chariots would distribute sweets and pastries to all the beautiful ladies looking out to the balcony for their transit. It was only in 1893 for the Festino di Santa Rosalia(Celebration for Saint Rosalie) that the chariot with the statue of the saint showed up once again.The streets were decorated for the occasion with illuminated arches, and fireworks welcomed the arrival of the chariot to Foro Italico. In 1981 the National Expo, whose president was the Prince of Camporeale, took place in Palermo. During this exhibition, the delicacies made by the firm Bruno received a huge visibility, particularly candied fruits and almond paste, thus awarding them a gold medal. Worth to mention also the replica of the funeral of Umberto I, exhibited by the firm Bruno on the occasion of the celebration of the dead.
In 1900 the Bar Centrale was attached to the Dolceria. This bar was the pioneer of fast food in Palermo, a place where citizens could taste delicious gastronomic specialties for a little price. This establishment lasted approximately 30 years. Nevertheless, nowadays it is still possible to taste some specialties such as the Iris made by the firm Bruno which are sold all over Sicily. This sweet was created in 1904 in honour to Pietro Mascagni, who at that time was directing the theatrical piece “Iris” at the Massimo Theatre.
Unfortunately, Word War I started to shake the tranquillity of Palermo. In 1925-1926 the firm Bruno exhibited, during Easter, two cassata (one of the most important Sicilian sweets) decorated with sugar roses and candied fruits. The Dolceria of Giuseppe Bruno closed down after approximately 90 years of service, leaving a wonderful memory in the hearts of all the citizens of Palermo.
It was just Giuseppe Bruno that decided, after the Dolceria closed down, to build as his private house the palace where today our B&B is located…